Question : MONITORING OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS

(a) whether the Government is monitoring the construction of check dams and local reservoirs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS); and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)

(a)&(b): The primary objective of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is to enhance the livelihood security of the rural households, by providing on demand up to 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year to every rural household for doing unskilled manual work. Creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor is also an important objective of the Act. Implementation of schemes formulated under Section 4 of MGNREGA is the responsibility of the States/ UTs. Schedule-I of MGNREGA as amended from time to time lists the category of works on which the Schemes formulated by State Governments under Section 4(1) of the Act for giving effect to the provisions of the Act shall focus upon. These primarily include water and irrigation, land development, plantation, environmental protection and sanitation, conservation, horticulture, livestock, water and soil conservation works, afforestation, works relating to augmenting natural resource base for improving rural economy, rural connectivity etc. Gram Panchayats, in meetings of the Gram Sabha and Ward Sabha are to determine the order of priority of works to be taken up. There is a comprehensive system of monitoring and review of the implementation of all the programmes of the Ministry, including MGNREGA, which inter-alia include Periodic Progress Reports, Performance Review Committee (PRC) meetings, Area Officers` Scheme, National Level Monitors and Vigilance & Monitoring Committees at the State and District levels. Construction of check dams and local reservoirs under MGNREGA is not separately monitored.